I've been asked to sell some bottles of port for my brother. He has 9 bottles of 1985 Fonseca and 3 bottles of Dows 1985. The port has been stored on its side and is located in Berkhamsted, Herts. He wants £50 per bottle for the Dows and £55 for the Fonseca. Collection only.

Hi Lesley, and welcome to the port forum. My initial reaction is that your brother’s desired prices are more than ambitious. As an example, the Fonseca ‘85 can be purchased from a top quality wine merchant for just over £54 a bottle, or with delivery maybe £56:

Anyone purchasing in a private sale would therefore be unwilling to pay anything like £55. Something in the region of £30 would be more likely. One option would be to place the bottles for auction with one of the London auction houses, but this would also require that you have the bottles shipped to the auction house. Others might be better placed to advise whether the auction houses would arrange for collection. After the auction house takes it’s fee/commission you might find you are receiving not much more or even less than £30 per bottle.

Hi and welcome, Lesley. Can I ask what room and temperature the port has been in/at (a cellar, garage, shed, loft, a regular room)?
I'm actually only 15 miles away in Bucks, so could be tempted, whilst seconding flash's comments on price.

I've spoken to my father and he says it was stored in the garage when my brother had it and then whilst it's been in my father's care it was stored in a cupboard away from central heating but he doesn't know what temperature. If you would like to talk to him about it, I can let you have his phone number.